The Time Bank and the lost Tick-Tock Moments

By Dandy Ahuruonye and Dandy Ahaoma Ahuruonye

Hear ye, hear me, young time travellers! Tick-tock, tick-tock! That's not just any old sound, that's the rhythm of a rollicking adventure, and it's got your name on it! So, gather 'round, and lend an ear to a tale that's as extraordinary as a unicorn's hiccup. Welcome to "The Time Bank and the Lost Tick-Tock Moments" – a whirligig of wit, a tornado of tickles, and a labyrinth of laughter that'll have you in stitches! Our heroine? None other than Lunara, a lass with a brain buzzing like a beehive of brilliant ideas. She's the belle of the ball in Temporium, a town where time doesn't just fly – it pirouettes, prances, and occasionally does a cheeky cha-cha-cha backwards! One fine day, Lunara uncovers a treasure chest chock-full of postcards from the future – or is it the past? In Temporium, telling the two apart is trickier than a two-headed coin toss!

With a flick of her wrist and a twinkle in her eye, she sends Hope hurtling back to Yesterday, kick-starting an avalanche of clock-ticking capers. Enter stage right, Mr Horatio Pendulum, the venerable clockmaker with a beard fluffier than a cloud and a shop echoing with the secrets of the sands of time. His eyes twinkle with the wisdom of the ages, and his laugh? It's as ticklish as a feather's caress on your nose! Lunara, her heart pounding like a drumroll, pops the million-dollar question: "Why does time do the hockey-cokey in Temporium?" Mr Pendulum, with a mischievous glint in his eye, whispers tales of a comet's tail that tickled the town's clock tower, sending every tick into a tizzy and every tock into a topsy-turvy tumble. But shush now, here comes the juicy bit – the Whispering Pendulum! It's not just a pendulum; it's a riddle wrapped in a mystery, swaddled in an enigma, all swinging to the secret rhythm of the cosmos. And Lunara's got the key – well, she will, once she cracks the cosmic code of ticks and tocks!

So, what's the plan, Stan? Wait for the moon to flash its cheesiest grin, sprint to the town square, and stand beneath the daisy clock. Then, with a whisper as soft as a butterfly's sigh, reveal the secret sequence. And voilà! The hidden mysteries of time will pop up like a jack-in-the-box of wonders! But hold your horses, there's more! Ever been to a Tick-Tock Tea Party? They're not your average brew – they're a riot of giggles, served with a side of surprises. Keep your ears pricked for the pendulum's whispers, and you might just snag an invite! And there's Lunara, at the edge of it all, where the cobblestones cuddle the meadow, and the sun plays peekaboo with the shadows. She holds the Timekeeper's Promise, a brass beauty that's warm to the touch and bursting with secrets. Thanks to Lunara, Temporium's changing. Laughter rings louder, hugs hang around longer, and daisies do the disco in the gardens. Even the oak tree's in on the secret, rustling up tales of time's true nature – a waltz of shadows and light, a dance that dips us into eternity.

So, dear readers, are you ready to join Lunara on her quest? To untangle the Eternal Now, where yesterday and tomorrow have a bear hug, and today stretches out like a lazy cat in the sun? Then step right up, and let's turn the page on the most ticklish, time-tastic adventure of your lives! "The Time Bank and the Lost Tick-Tock Moments" – where every second counts and every minute is a memory waiting to be made. Grab your copy, and let's make time for fun!

• Language: English
• Publisher: dandyahuruonyebooks.com
• Release date: May 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224986323

Dandy Ahuruonye

Dandy Ahuruonye is a professional writer who has published material that delves into such wider spheres as current affairs and social issue commentaries. In recent years, he has written articles, lectures, technical materials, short stories, books, and critiques. Many of these are published on various platforms and are accessible to the general public. Ahuruonye was born in Aba, Nigeria, and has spent much of his adult life in Europe. His father was Friday Enwereji Ahuruonye; one of the many children of a tribal ruler – Chief Ahuruonye Ikpefu. His mother was Madam Joy Chinagorom Ahuruonye. He started his education at Umuikaa Central primary School soon after the Biafran war, and later moved to Mkpuka Community primary School. After his primary school education, attended St Ephraim Secondary School Owerrinta. Ahuruonye subsequently completed his studies at Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland. He holds a Diploma in Fashion Designing, and a University Certificate in Medical Records from DIT (HMI). Dandy has published several books including a technical work on fashion and designing: “The Shoemaker - Principles and Guide for Professionals.” He has also published a host of children's books including: ‘Illustrated Children’s Stories;’ ‘Groccoli;’ ‘Waka;’ ‘The Good and Ugly Weather Friends;’ ‘The Eel and Phil in Kill;’ ‘The Grass Fart in Donegal Bay,’ amongst others. This Encyclopaedia: THE WHISPERING POET: An Anthology Of Igbo & Other Proverbs is his latest masterpiece.

Book preview

CREDITS

INTRODUCTION

Time is like the library where each second is a book waiting to be read.

H

ear ye, hear ye, young time travellers! 🕰️ Tick-tock, tick-tock! That's not just any old sound, that's the rhythm of a rollicking adventure, and it's got your name on it! So, gather 'round, and lend an ear to a tale that's as extraordinary as a unicorn's hiccup. Welcome to The Time Bank and the Lost Tick-Tock Moments – a whirligig of wit, a tornado of tickles, and a labyrinth of laughter that'll have you in stitches! Well, the tale begins this way:

Once upon a time, in a town where every tick-tock counted, a young girl named Lunara noticed that the rhythm of time was fading. Time, she mused, is like a mischievous cat—always slipping through our fingers, yet leaving its pawprints on our hearts. In her quest to save the precious seconds, Lunara discovered a dusty trunk of old postcards—messages from Temporium’s future selves. With that, she mailed Hope to Yesterday. Her journey led her to the heart of the town—the Clockmaker’s Workshop, where Mr Horatio Pendulum, as ancient as the grandfather clocks he meticulously crafted, sat hunched over his workbench. His shop smelled of polished wood and aged brass, and the ticking of a thousand timepieces echoed within its walls. Ah, young Lunara, he chimed, his voice as soft as a distant bell. What brings you to my humble abode? Lunara hesitated, then blurted out, Mr Pendulum, I seek answers. Why does time flow backwards in Temporium? And can we change its course? The old clockmaker chuckled, setting aside his tools. Curious minds are like winding keys, he said. They unlock the mysteries of the universe. Come, child, sit by the hearth. Let me tell you a tale.

And so, the little girl settled into a worn armchair, her legs dangling above the wooden floor. The fire crackled, casting shadows on the walls adorned with antique clocks. He leaned back, his eyes fixed on the grand pendulum clock that dominated the room. Long ago, Temporium was a bustling town, its streets alive with laughter and song. But one fateful day, a comet streaked across the sky, and its tail brushed against our clock tower. Since then, time has flowed backwards, like a river reversing its course. Lunara listened, her heart racing. But why, Mr Pendulum? Why did the comet do this? The old clockmaker’s gaze turned distant.

A 3D digital graphic artwork of a town square with a young girl climbing a church tower to coax its huge clock bell to resume ringing. The girl's face, hands, feet, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and all other body parts are crystal clear, very sharp and humanly realistic on a clear background in digital graphic HD 3D and extremely realistic

Legend has it that the comet carried a message—a secret encoded in its celestial dust. A message meant for those who dared to unravel the intricacies of time. He leaned closer, his breath warm against Lunara’s cheek. Listen well, child. The secret lies in the Whispering Pendulum.

Lunara’s eyes widened. The pendulum? But it swings back and forth! Mr Pendulum nodded. Indeed. But hidden within its rhythmic motion is a code—a sequence of ticks and tocks that can unlock time’s true nature. Each tick is a clue, and each tock conceals a fragment of the comet’s message; like the time weaver’s spindle. Lunara, her mind racing, asked, But how do we decipher it? The old man leaned even closer; his voice barely audible. Are you ready for an adventure, my friend? The key to unlocking the secrets of time lies in patience. Watch the pendulum as it swings, listen to the beats, and feel the vibrations in your bones. Then, wait for the full moon and quickly head to the town square. Once there, stand beneath the daisy clock and whisper the secret sequence. Time will guide you from there, revealing its hidden mysteries in a glorious display of wonder and excitement; but you’ve got to be there at the right time to witness it!

Her heart pounded some more. And then? Mr Pendulum smiled. Then, my child, you’ll discover the Clockmaker’s Secret; the pendulum’s whispers—a way to turn time forward. But beware, for every secret has its price. The girl wanted to know more after realising the information was so important. And what about the Tick-Tock Tea Parties I overheard people talk about in the town square? As she shot a glance at him, her face scrunched up in a confused frown as he took his time before responding to her question. Hmm, excuse me, do tea parties take place in Temporium? I overheard some townsfolk talking about them, she asked. He smiled again and replied, Ah, yes, tea parties take place in Temporium, but they often occur at odd hours. However, if you're looking for something more interesting, keep an ear out for the pendulum whispers.

The young girl stood at the edge of Temporium, where the cobblestones met the meadow. The sun hung low, casting long shadows—the images of moments yet to be lived. She clutched the Timekeeper’s Promise, its brass surface warm against her palm. The town had changed. People laughed more, hugged tighter, and planted daisies in their gardens. The oak tree rustled its leaves, and the river flowed forward, its ripples chasing the horizon. But she knew that time was still a fickle friend—one that could slip through her fingers if she wasn’t vigilant. Yes, Lunara lived in a town where seconds slipped through fingers like sand. But she had a secret: she could hear the whispers of forgotten hours. On the plus side, she had repaid debts, restored lost moments, and even shared her extra hours with Mr Pendulum, who now hummed as he repaired clocks. But the professor’s eyes held a sadness—a longing for the memories he had traded for wisdom. And so, Lunara decided to visit the oak tree—the ancient witness to Temporium’s regressive dance. Its bark felt like old parchment, and